Self-worth arises from self-knowledge, self-acceptance and self-love.

While my patients consider me to be an expert in my field, I always remind them that they are the experts in their own lives. No one can know YOU better than you can. The keys to increased self-worth is knowing yourself, accepting yourself and loving yourself.

Getting to know yourself requires deep reflection and contemplation. I often ask clients who are depressed, anxious or battle with self-esteem issues what their strengths are — and I’m often surprised that it takes some time and contemplation before they answer. Knowing your self worth is essential and serves as a strong protective factor in the face of personal difficulties.

Contemplating on the following questions may assist in establishing your self-worth:

What are my greatest achievements?

What personal qualities do others find desirable in me?

What am I most complimented on?

What accomplishments am I most proud of?

What makes me ME?

One of the biggest hindrances to increased self-worth is comparing ourselves to others. Perhaps we have been raised to compare ourselves to others — even as children we compete in school for academic accolades and sport awards. The most effective way to enhance our self-worth is to realise and recognise that we are unqiue and therefore not in competition with anyone. Authenticity is the key to accepting ourselves. Once we acknowledge and recognise our uniqueness, we can build on our unique strengths. We need constant reminders of our self-worth. This can take the form of mindful reflection, pictures that remind us of our worth or practising kindness and self-love.

The goal is to have a true sense of our self-worth, realising that it is something internal and no-one and no situation can take this away from us. Others may not recognise our strengths or sometimes consciously try to diminish our sense of self, but once you recognise and remind yourself of your self-worth, others action and life’s challenges will not be able to overpower this.

Why Self-Worth Is the First Step to Leadership Development

“People look for retreats for themselves, in the country, by the coast, or in the hills . . . There is nowhere that a person can find a more peaceful and trouble-free retreat than in his own mind. . . . So constantly give yourself this retreat, and renew yourself.”